Improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles



J. AQBILZ. Fifth-Wheel for Vehicles.- No. 216,551.` A YPatentedJune17`,1879.

NPETEHS, PHoTU-LITMDGRAPNER, WASHINGON. C-

Fig. 2 is a section.

i UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

JOHN A. BILZ, OF PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA.y

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH-WHEELS FOR VEHICLES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,551, dated June 17,1879; application liled March 24, 1879.

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoEN A. `BILZ, of Pleasanton, county of Alameda, andState of California, have invented a Self- Sustaining Coupling forVehicles; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My. invention relates to an improved coupling for vehicles; and itconsists in a novel l construction of the circle upon which the forbyreference to the accompanying drawings,

in which- Figure 1 is aview of my coupling detached. Fig. 3is a View ofthe cap with its cushion.

A is the upper part of my circle, which is cast in one piece with thecrossbar B and the extensions C, which serve to secure it to thevehicle-body. The back part of the curve A has projections D castnponit, with downwardly-proj eeting lugs, to guide and retain the cap E inplace.

A hub or boss, the center of the bar B, this'being the center ofthe'circle; and a liange, G, surrounds this hub at a sufficient distanceto leave a space into which a similar but smaller ilange from the otherpart of the circle will fit. At a little distance in front of this flange is a segment, H, having a curved overhanging lip, I, for a purpose tobe more fully described hereinafter.

The lower circle, J, is cast or formed with a' bar, K, and the twocircular flanges L and M are formed on the center of this bar, so as tot within and outside of the ilange G, respectively, as shown. p l

The front edge of the flange M has a -projection, N, which passesbeneath the lip I F, projects downward fronn when the circles are placedtogether, and they are thus locked and prevented from separating.

A pin or bolt, O, passes through the hub F and down through the bolster;but this bolt receives no strain, as the hub F, iianges G and H upon theupper circle, and the flanges L and M upon the lower circle fit intoeach other, so as to take all the side strain.

The lip I of the upper flange, iittin g over the projection N of thelower one, locks the two together, so that it is impossible to separatethem. The cap E fits over the two circles at the rear, and is bolted tothe lugs D, 'so as to hold the two together. A plate is secured to thelower part of the axle, anda projection,

P, receives one end of a brace, Q, while the other end ts a similarprojection, R, below the cap E. Nuts at each end hold this brace inplace, and its eiiect is to steady the axle and prevent itfrom bein gtipped over'by strains upon it.

In order to prevent noise and rattle, I fit a rubber or other elasticbearing, T, into the space between the ianges L and M of the lowercircle, andthe ilange G of the upper one rests upon this bearing. Anelastic bearing, S, is also itted into the cap E, and the lower circlemoves upon it.

This mechanismis compact, strong, and noiseless. It can only beseparated by taking off the brace Q and cap E, and then turning thecircles upon each other until the projection N is disengaged from thelip I, when they may be separated.

When the lip and projection are engaged `it will be seen that no king-bolt will be needed,

nor any other fastening.

I am aware that a single cup has been formed upon the lower part of thecircle to receive a projection from the upper one, and to receive oil asa lubricant, and I do not claim, broadly, such a construction 5 but WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The circle A, with the hub F, ring G, and segment H, with its lip I,in combination with the circle J, having the rings L and M, and theprojection N, whereby the two parts of the circle are locked so as toturn upon each other, substantially as herein described.

2. The circles A and J 7 with their concentric and interlocking rings FG H and L M, in combination with the elastic cushions T atnd S Withinlthe rings, and cap E, substantially as and for the purpose hereindescribed.

3. The circles A and J With their concentric interlocking rings and cap,as shown, in combination with the brace Q, extending from the cap E tothe bolt O, substantially as herein described.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto set my h and.

JOHN A. BILZ. Witnesses: A

FRANK A. BRooKs, CHAs. G. YALE.

